Black pepper helps stop the too-quick breakdown of curcumin in the body. This helps the bloodstream absorb turmeric and curcumin so that you get all their great benefits. In fact, studies show black pepper increases the absorption of turmeric and curcumin by a whopping 2,000 percent.
Some companies have added black pepper extract (bioperine) to their formula to increase absorption. The addition of black pepper causes an absorption rate to be increased by 2,000% and the metabolic breakdown of the curcuminoids can be reduced, both of which increase bioavailability.
Black pepper contains a unique “bio-enhancer” compound known as piperine that significantly boosts turmeric’s bioavailability – by as much as 2,000 percent, in fact. This is the reason why many turmeric and curcumin supplement products on the market today contain either black pepper or piperine.
Unfortunately, the curcumin in turmeric is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. As a result, you could be missing out on its advantages to health. However, adding black pepper can help. Research supports that combining the piperine in black pepper with the curcumin in turmeric enhances curcumin absorption by up to 2,000% ( 2 ).
One more query we ran across in our research was “Can fermented turmeric make you more potent than black pepper?”.
We discovered and the good news is, it is possible. As it turns out, by fermenting turmeric its active constituents can be drawn out and made more potent in a way similar to, and potentially even greater than, black pepper. Here’s another reason why fermented turmeric may be superior to turmeric and black pepper.
What are the health benefits of black pepper?
Like turmeric, black pepper contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it potentially helpful for managing inflammatory conditions and reducing free-radical damage.
Is it safe to take curcumin and black pepper together?
There’s also evidence to show that taking curcumin along with just piperine, black pepper’s primary alkaloid, is typically safe and causes “no adverse effects [4].”.
Can I add black pepper to my curcumin?
The addition of black pepper causes an absorption rate to be increased by 2,000% and the metabolic breakdown of the curcuminoids can be reduced, both of which increase bioavailability. However, this addition to turmeric formulas can have adverse effects that we did not want in our Nuvothera Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin.
When I was reading we ran into the question “Can black pepper help curcumin absorption?”.
One common answer is, ayurveda, the Traditional Indian Medicinal System, has used black pepper since centuries as a bioenhancer (to increase absorption of drugs). Science has identified piperine as the active constituent of black pepper that contributes to this effect. Research suggests that piperine may increase curcumin’s bioavailability by 2000%.
How to add more spice (pepper/turmeric) to your life?
With just 1/20 teaspoon or more of black pepper, the bioavailability of turmeric is greatly improved, and turmeric’s benefits are further enhanced. How to add more spice (pepper/turmeric) to your life: Turmeric is commonly added into mustards and a little pepper will spice it up!, and be creative!
How to enhance turmeric’s benefits and absorption?
How to enhance Turmeric’s benefits and absorption: Curcumin only makes up about 5% of turmeric, similar to black pepper where the active ingredient, piperine also makes up about 5% of the spice. Piperine is responsible for black pepper’s rich flavor and helps inhibit drug metabolism.